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How American Workers Got Lazy

Employees switch jobs at half the rate they did 15 years ago. Entrepreneurship has also plunged: Only 7%-8% of U.S. companies are start-ups.

By

Matthew Rees

Feb. 27, 2017 7:11 p.m. ET

The Census Bureau made a startling disclosure in November: During a recent 12-month period, the percentage of Americans who moved from one dwelling to another was at its lowest point since 1948, when such data began to be collected. While the reasons for depressed mobility are varied, it may be emblematic of a broader lethargy that’s set in across the country. Is the “land of opportunity,” with dynamic labor markets and fresh sources of renewal, a thing of the past?